The sun., 1887-11-17


ment. And this also was true. But
work within him, inducing him to
hold his ground, with which no one
else counted, and least of all perhaps
himself. Ii one had asked him why he
kept around that quiet Miss Laurent
so much, he might have stroked his
mustache a moment and then said:
II don't know"
The Laurents' vacation was at an
end, for their six weeks, which alone
with such a large family Mrs. Lau-
rent felt that she could afford at q
large hotel, had dwindled down to the
last day but one. There was another
picnic settled for this occasion, and
the Laurents had started out upon it
with spirits collectively depressed.
From the point of view from which
they regarded successful season it
was felt by Mrs. Laurent and the five
flirtatious girls that the Summer had
been failure.
Sydney was sitting apart again, as
on the first day, when Farnworth
joined her.
"Won't you," he said, "walk out to
the end OF that rocky point over there
and see the tide come in? It is pret-
ty enough sight,"
Sydney's second impulse was to
make some excuse. But she had risen
to her feet almost unconsciously, and
now there was nothing to do but to
follow him, miserably feeling all the
time the upbraiding glance of those
ten eyesfastened upon her back as she
she walked away.
1t was a rough path, necessitating
much help from Farnworth's hand.
At the end there was a low extension,
a fat plateau, and there they paused.
"WOn't you sit DOWN." suggested
Farnworth. There was a sort of q
new determination in his manner
which made her strangely nervous.
She sat down, because 1T seemed less
dangerous to comply than to oppose.
Farnworth took a pebble, looked at
it and then tossed it out to sea. He
remained with his eyes fastened on the
rocky floor at his feet one moment be-
fore he resumed:
II hope you will not misunderstood
take what l am going to say to you
amiss.
Sydney's heart began to thump 50
violently that she feared he would see
the bunch of field flowers at her breast
vibrate with the inner tumult. But
he did not raise his eyes. For so
self-possessed a young man he had
grown strangely constrained.
"Before and above ALL" heresumed,
81 wish you to believe that / would
not molest you for the world-that
ask nothing" A color had come into
his face. He cleared his throat. "In
one word, Miss Laurent" he suddenly
turned his handsome face upon her,
81 love you. There the murder is out.
| know that you dislike me. You
have showed me as much in countless
ways all these six weeks past. re.
peat that am not speaking with any
hope of gaining any expression of
good will from you. No. 1t is USE
less. know that, too. Perhaps you
are too fine woman to spend your
self in making the happiness OF one
man aione-and as worthless a fellow
as | am. But, / thought, perhaps,
you might like to know one thing.
Women like you, they say, do care to
know-have q Joy in learning such q
fact. 1t is this: l have always been
of very little value to myself or to
any one else. l have led q perfectly
selfish and useless live. Since have
known you you have fired me with a
desire to change-to live more worthi-
ly. l thought you would like to know
what your influence had done. This
much for me. That is ALL"
He rose as though he would not de-
tain her longer. as though he felt she
must want to be relieved of his pres
ence as soon as might be.
They went back over the rough path
in silence unbroken by so much as q
word on either side.
During the rest of the day the bright
little woman who noticed everything
noticed also that Mr.. Farnworth's
attentions in the direction of the seri-
Gus Miss Laurent had apparently fall
en- off.
"He has not been near her once"
she said at the close of the evening.
"Ah, we'll, could have told her as
much. It's simply love of conquest
with that fellow. He may feel that
he's made an impression. Then it
would be like him to drop away.
She's a fine girl. I hope she's not dis.
appointed"
But the fair, frivolous Laurent sis
ters had keener intuitions.
''Did Benjamin Farnworth come to
the point to-day?" they asked with
one voice when Sydney had at last
gone up to her room. s.Now, don't
blush! You have no practicality.
Did he or did he not?"
A moment later there was no need
to tell Sydney not to blush. She was
pale enough when she said slowly:
"No."
ooh, come, now! Really? Why did
he want to take you off to the end of
the point with him then and come
back looking so crestfallen and
glum?"
But now. to the amazement OF
the five girls, Sydney turned upon
them.
Cannot you leave me in peace?"
she cried sharply. 81 tell you Mr..
Farnworth will never be anything to
me, nor shall ! ever be anything to
him. Are you satisfiei?"
"Well, then. he has been amusing
my dear, at your expense"
was the cruel rejoinder to this declara-
tion.
Long after one of the five girls, vino
shared Sydney's room, was soundly
asleep Sydney herself lay awake with
a few quiet tears rolling noise
lessly down her cheeks and splashing
on her pillow, She had only told the
truth to her family. Benjamin Farm
worth would never be anything to her;
she would never be anything to him.
Well, would she have wished this to
be different? Had not she always
looked forward to life devoted to |
higher. or at least other, aims than
those which usually filled the mind |
e